[pullquote align=”right”]”I don’t know where we would be without coming to you…we’re no longer getting divorced.” Testimonial from Coach Steph’s last marriage mediation session.[/pullquote] Pre-marital coaching is an area that few venture into. most husbands and wives to-be simply talk to the pastor for six weeks and then walk down the aisle…BIG MISTAKE!

Now that you are married, I’d recommend some post-nuptial coaching and allow us to find you a successfully (and happily) married couple to be your marriage “mentors.” The truth is that most people don’t talk about the challenges of being married, and they expect newlyweds to become a functioning marital unit overnight. It doesn’t happen like that.

Communication is the key. You have to learn each other’s languages and that takes time. If you’ve already had your first argument as a married couple, that’s okay. Conflict in itself isn’t bad–but how you handle it can be.

I am not married (yet), however, I respect the institution and know that every marriage is different. I coach married couples based on the spiritual principles of being man and wife, and on the practicality of having a successful relationship with another human being, which includes understanding both the differences and similarities between the two of you. Finding and appreciating your differences and similarities will mean the difference between “happily ever after,” and “happily NEVER after.”

Amir is a great guy. We just have to stop him from believing that nice guys finish last. This belief stops him from getting the girl. Once he accepts that being a “nice guy” isn’t a bad thing, then he will have the ability to take control of his dating (or lack thereof) situation.

Will he be a playboy? No.

Will he be a pick-up artist? No.

Will he be a guy that can see not only a girl, but the right girl, talk to her, and ask her out? ABSOLUTELY!

One of the ways to help Amir is to coach him through our signature program, called, “Connecting™” In this program, he will have the ability to learn how to overcome his relationship-defeating beliefs and also be “connected” with women who could be viable candidates for a long-term relationship with Amir.

Steph,
I need your help! I started seeing a girl and she’s amazing! We’re moving at a pretty good pace, not too fast or slow…it works for us. Of course, we’ve have a few issues, and I told my a buddy of mine, and it was no big deal. Now, it seems that everyone else has something to say (I guess one buddy told another and so on), and I am tired of it! They keep reminding me about my ex, and she was crazy, I know, but this girl is not like that.

How can make them stop bothering me? I appreciate that they care, but I think I am doing a good job of handling the situation on my own.

PLEASE HELP!

-BFM

[warning] Use the advice below at your own discretion. WhatTheLove/Coach Steph promise no outcomes, but provide the following response for entertainment and educational purposes ONLY. (The Legal Department has spoken.) [/warning]

Dear BFM,
Wouldn’t you know that I just finished screaming that I wish everyone would leave me alone about a certain situation? (Which is why I had to answer you this week. LOL!)

Our friends usually mean well, but sometimes it is too much to deal with. While you didn’t state the “issue,” I am going to assume that it wasn’t major enough to warrant termination of the relationship, nor is it a “Book of Bye” type of situation. As such is the case, telling your “buddy” your concerns is fine, but for everyone to have an opinion, that’s just too much.

So here are your options:Tell everyone to get off your back! While this sounds drastic, there is a way to CALMLY and NICELY let your friends know that you do appreciate their concerns, but that they also must not bring the Ex into the Next. Whatever happened before, is not happening now, and even if there was an issue, as long as you can return to a healthy relationship, then everyone should just chill out.

Put up with this nonsense in silence! Now this may seem easier, but it’s not. As you suffer in silence, your frustrations will find an outlet–which may be your relationship. There’s really no reason to put up with the intrusion of others’ opinions and advice, unless you want to do…which if you wanted to, you wouldn’t have reached out to moi, right?

Take their feedback as gospel, and run the risk of ruining your new relationship. This is different from suffering in silence, because it means that you are silently agreeing with them. Sure, our friends have seen us through a fair share of relationships; however, that doesn’t give them carte blanche to remind us of our mistakes at every turn. If you begin to believe whatever they are telling you, you will surely begin to sabotage this new relationship, just because it seems easier than being wrong.

I don’t know what you’ll choose, but I’d like to offer you a little help with my Be a Rockstar video (and here’s the link, because I like you :D). The Be a ROCKSTAR program talks about boundaries and who to let into your VIP area. Get the idea? So, if there are at least 3 people who are getting on your last nerve…then this is the program for you.

Dating is like interviewing for a job: You keep your best foot forward, make the best possible impression and hope they don’t see any of the flaws that make you YOU. So does that mean dating is like business? As a wrap-up to Charles’s month-long Online Dating Intensive, Charles discusses the business aspects of relationships with Stephanie D. McKenzie (aka “Coach Steph“), certified life coach and author of The Business of Dating: Traditional Business Principles for your Modern Dating Life! Get to know how you are presenting yourself, establish early boundaries, and read early red flags. Don’t miss this episode!

After being repeatedly disappointed in the second season of the dollar-store version of Sex and the City, known to most of you, as “Single Ladies,” it’s time to make some things clear…

Single Ladies is doing its millions of viewers–who are largely female– a huge disservice. Not only are these characters void of executive level careers, it seems that their every dating move, must culminate in some version of sex, which usually creates a even more dysfunctional relationship than what was occuring pre-sex.

In fact, all of the relationships on this show exhibit some level of dysfunction. But, we continue to tune in because, for some, this is just life imitating art imitating life.

WTH?!

I was almost proud of the character played by Denise Vasi (Raquel) when she decided that she could date two different men. However, my pride was dashed (no pun intended) to bits as she took the opportunity to bed one of them during the same episode. Dating aint’ mating–consummating, that is–and as such is the case, should you follow the example of Denise’s character, you will end up just like she did…empty handed.

I won’t even go into the exploits of LisaRaye’s character, because the truth is that she is too old to be ungainfully employed, and driving the Ashton Martin her ex-signif bought for her. While there are some of you reading this who think that is cute. The truth is, she should be able to afford her own. Her own Ashton Martin, her own house, and her own life. But, that’s enough about that.

If you haven’t noticed, everytime one of these women engages in the sexual conquests, they are the ones that are conquered. The lusts and passions of these characters are very true to life, and the outcomes of their decisions are very true to life, too. If you continue to use sex as a toy, tool, plot, or powerplay, you will remain as these characters do: SINGLE.

It’s no secret that I don’t advocate for pre-marital sex–in my life, or in my practice; however, if you don’t want to ride that wave with me, at least be mindful of the fact that sex is nothing to play with. It is nothing that you use to get or keep someone, nor is it something that is casual and without consequences.

Listen, relationships take time to build, and when you add sex before that foundation has been poured (and dried), then you leave yourself in a very vulnerable position. I am not saying that you should implement a three-month rule, or some ridiculous RULE for when you will give your body to someone, I am saying that sex will change your relationship. Done too early, it will change it for the worse. Too early for me, if before there’s a hyphen in my last name; however, again, you may not want to ride that wave with me–that’s fine. Just be clear about what you are doing when you are “doing it.” And to make it clear, you are shifting the possibility of building a relationship on ROCK, to one that is built on SAND. Have you ever seen a house built on sand? Nope–there’s a reason for that.

Bottom line…acting like a “single lady” will keep you a…(wait for it)

…single lady!

If that’s where you want to be, then carry on as your were. If not, then perhaps you need to reroute the path that you are on, and let Raquel, April and Keisha be characters you watch, not people you imitate.

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OUR CLIENTS SPEAK…

Very smart very nice very helpful ~ looking forward work with her for long term.

JW, from Life Coaching Client, California

I was going through a very difficult time in my life and had the good fortune to have Coach Stephanie work with me to bring closure and a renewed sense of self worth. I am deeply thankful for her insight and sincere help.

TCS, Male, Life Coaching Client

"Coach Steph is one of the most elite and intellectual individuals I know. She is passionate about her purpose the plan and the end result of the work to be done. Try her out and you will never be disappointed as she is Honest, Focused and Driven to attain results."

NF, Business Coaching Client+Incubator Program Participant

Originally, we were just seeking pre-marital sessions so that we could get a discount on our marriage license (heh, heh). We ran across Stephanie in our search, and after the first conversation, not only were we excited about the premarital session activities, but we also knew she was "the one" who could help guide us through any rough patches ahead. She has now become invaluable to our continued development as newlyweds, and we greatly appreciate her willingness to do phone sessions when we both couldn't be in town.